From flirting to stay in the senior grade a decade ago, Na Piarsaigh are within sight of a second AIB All-Ireland club hurling title in three years.

Kevin Downes is only 26 but has been there throughout the transition from borderline senior outfit to four-time county and Munster champions, with the All-Ireland final win over Cushendall two years ago the crowning glory.

Saturday’s decider against Cuala, who succeeded the Limerick city club as champions last year, has all the makings of a classic after years of several lop-sided finals.

Still in his mid-20s, Downes even has to put up with ribbing for being one of the elder statesmen.

“None have kids, none under pressure from the girlfriend anyway. We’re at a stage in the panel where I’m 26 and lads would be slagging me that I’m old.

“Peter Casey there was out in the snow, he couldn’t have been happier, he was running around like a young calf.

“That crew of us working, of that age, then a crew finishing college, another crew in college.

“Good mix, but no-one really struggling to get the time, and there’s no one working away, apart from David Breen,” he adds in reference to the former Limerick player who works as a physio for rugby outfit Wasps in England.

A notable trend with Na Piarsaigh is that they’ve won county and provincial titles every second year from 2011 on, with valley seasons in between.

The aftermath of the 2016 All-Ireland win saw a particularly pronounced drop in fortunes as they failed to even emerge from the round robin stage in Limerick.